Mailo lives in Gera, Thuringia, and rides downhill and enduro races. He was diagnosed with cancer at the age of seven, underwent five lung operations and beat the disease thanks to T-cell therapy. Despite missing 25 per cent of his lung volume, he trains hard and will be competing in the Open Enduro World Cups in 2026. He shares insights from his experiences on his Instagram channel @mailo.grh.
BIKE: Mailo, you're training really hard at the moment. What's on the agenda today?
Mailo: Strength training is on my agenda today, so front squats, classic squats and some deadlifts. On Tuesdays, I then do three hours of basic endurance training on the road bike.
That sounds professional. Do you make your own training plan?
I make the training plan together with a sports scientist I know well. The week is clearly structured: Monday strength training, Tuesday basic endurance, Wednesday regeneration or break and Thursday and Friday basic rides again. At the weekend, it's mainly mountain biking. Of course, I also adapt the whole thing to how I feel. If my body needs an extra day of rest, I can flexibly incorporate it and shift the plan slightly.
Let's go back: Eleven years ago, you were diagnosed with cancer. How did that go?
The diagnosis was a nephroblastoma, a kidney tumour. It was treated, but after about two years it metastasised to the lungs. And then new recurrences over the years. I was given chemotherapy again, but in 2020 it came out that chemo doesn't work for me. That was also the time when I started cycling.
How did you get on a bike?
Cycling came from my grandad - we used to cycle a lot. And then, of course, through videos by Lukas Knopf and Fabio Wibmer. I tried it out with my mates: riding down the stairs for the first time, jumping off kerbs. In 2021, I visited my first bike park at Bikewelt Schöneck - and that was the starting point for my goal: racing.
Wait - bike parks and races are two different things. Why downhill racing?
Downhill trails have always been a lot of fun for me. That little thrill when you ride a different line or it's muddy. And then I saw it on Instagram and TikTok: There are downhill races! I didn't know that before. I then got to know the first racers who took part as a hobby.
At the end of 2022, I actually wanted to compete in the Rookies Cup in Oberhof, but then my frame broke. So I took part in the off-season race in Elstra. 2023 was then my first real racing season: Steinach, Oberhof, Enduro Cups, Wieselnslalom.
The following years up to 2025 were characterised by ups and downs. What happened?
New setbacks again and again. New recurrences. I've had, I guess, five operations on my lungs. Four abdominal operations (I'm also missing a kidney). It was a constant up and down. And at the beginning of 2025, there was actually nothing more that could be done for me medically because my disease had progressed enormously, from my head to my pelvis. But it was during this time that I realised once again how important it is to do what really makes you happy and not to put off your dreams. That's how the video "Why Not" by Korbinian Engstler "Faster than cancer" came about, my own success video, in which I wanted to show what you can achieve despite such an illness.
And now? Are you cured?
I am currently in remission. This means that I am currently tumour-free. Nevertheless, I still have to go for check-ups at quarterly intervals. Fortunately, there has been no tumour activity so far.
What kind of therapy was that?
This was a T-cell therapy. The body's own immune cells are removed during a blood wash and remodelled in the laboratory. They are given a T-cell receptor that has the task of destroying the tumour cells. Theoretically, the immune system does this on its own in healthy people. In my case, it just needed an upgrade - like from a mechanical to an electronic circuit (laughs).
You drove despite chemotherapy. Is that even possible?
Nevertheless, I was always quite well. I was able to ride and had fun. And that helped me to clear my head.
What restrictions do you feel today when training or racing?
The missing lung volume. It's estimated that I'm missing about 25 per cent. A tumour once compressed my right main bronchus, causing my upper right lung lobe to collapse. I notice that, of course. But it really solidifies the goals in your head. When you're restricted and have a goal, you don't do things half-heartedly. You give 110 per cent.
What are your goals for 2026?
This year I want to take part in the first Open Enduro World Cups. About ten races in total: IXS Downhill Cup in Bellwald and Ilmenau, Enduro One, a few fun events - and the Enduro World Cups. Maybe Val di Fassa or Haute-Savoie Morillon in France. Just keep looking.
And the big goal?
Of course, I also have to fit in at school - I'm starting my A-levels now and would like to study medicine. And I want to slip further into the professional segment. I'm already riding with partners like Maxxis, Ergon and SR Suntour. I could never have imagined that. Thanks to the support of my parents and my local bike shop, Die Speiche - Der Fahrradladen in Gera. The owner Christian Künast has been supporting me since day one!
You're 18 and have to juggle school, training and racing. How do people react to your story?
The reactions are really good and many people are very impressed. I got to know Max Walscheid at the hospital. And just 39 days after I was discharged, I rode 42 kilometres with Max & Friends for KITZ - quite honestly with absolutely zero energy. Physically, I was really at my lowest point back then.
It was through this event that I met Helen Weber from the Rotwild Schwalbe Gravity Team, and we now often ride laps of the Königsstuhl together in Heidelberg. At the Bike Festival in Riva, I also got to know Max Pfeil from the Radon Enduro Team, Christian Textor, Johannes Fischbach and finally Korbinian Engstler. Some of them actually already knew my story a bit via Instagram.
You are a cheerful person - optimistic, outgoing. Where does this attitude come from?
You first learn to live with the illness. As a family, we learnt to live with it and always make the best of it. At some point I said to myself: I'm in a bad way, but there are others out there who are much worse off. So don't hang your head and keep going at 110 per cent. My family has always supported me.
Why do you want to study medicine - is it to do with your illness?
Yes, definitely. My doctor always took me by the hand. He showed me a lot, gave me insights into the lab and research, showed me photos of my cells. I found that really exciting.
And the dream of becoming a full professional?
Of course that would be the dream. But I can't say to my parents: I'm going to ride a bike now, I want to become a professional. That makes them suspicious. There's always something to do at school. But it would be a dream to make it onto a big World Cup team one day.
Mailo's partner: Maxxis, Ergon, SR Suntour and his local bike shop "Die Speiche - Der Fahrradladen" in Gera.
Laurin Lehner
Editor
